Makoto Ito
Blue Portrait, 1993
Glass
10 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Charles Bronfman
Photography: Jon Bolton

Japanese Studio Craft at RAM

February 18 – June 10, 2018

Focusing on how tradition can impact contemporary makers, Japanese Studio Craft at RAM is an exploration of small-scale craft—art jewelry, ceramics, baskets, fiber, glass, and wood—from artists with Japanese heritage.

Studio craft is most simply distinguished from the traditional version by intention. Where traditional craft has historically been used for necessity or ceremony, studio craft has emphasized artistic investigation or aesthetic contemplation. Significantly, studio craft may—or may not—be functional or be intended for practical use.

Since the later twentieth century, Japan—steeped in strong historical traditions that include woodworking, metalworking, fibers, lacquer ware, and more—has seen a greater focus on the development of craft-oriented studio practices that emphasize the artist’s interests rather than function. This has come in part from Japanese artists studying abroad who have been impacted by theories of making that have developed in places like the United States and Western Europe.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Junichi Arai, Kishi Eiko, Kyohei Fujita, Keiko Fukazawa, Kimiake Higuchi, Kazue Honma, Makoto Ito, Kiyomi Iwata, Jun Kaneko, Tamiko Kawata, Mika McCann, Keisuke Mizuno, Etsuko Nishi, Eugene Pijanowski, Hiroko Sato, Takako Saito, Yuka Saito, Toru Sato, Hisako Sekijima, Yoko Sekino-Bové, Yukihiro Shibata, Yosh Sugiyama, Akio Takamori, Tsuchida Yasuhiko, Koichiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Yamano, Takeshi Yasuda, and Jiro Yonezawa

Japanese Studio Craft at RAM

February 18 – June 10, 2018
Makoto Ito
Blue Portrait, 1993
Glass
10 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Charles Bronfman
Photography: Jon Bolton

Focusing on how tradition can impact contemporary makers, Japanese Studio Craft at RAM is an exploration of small-scale craft—art jewelry, ceramics, baskets, fiber, glass, and wood—from artists with Japanese heritage.

Studio craft is most simply distinguished from the traditional version by intention. Where traditional craft has historically been used for necessity or ceremony, studio craft has emphasized artistic investigation or aesthetic contemplation. Significantly, studio craft may—or may not—be functional or be intended for practical use.

Since the later twentieth century, Japan—steeped in strong historical traditions that include woodworking, metalworking, fibers, lacquer ware, and more—has seen a greater focus on the development of craft-oriented studio practices that emphasize the artist’s interests rather than function. This has come in part from Japanese artists studying abroad who have been impacted by theories of making that have developed in places like the United States and Western Europe.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Junichi Arai, Kishi Eiko, Kyohei Fujita, Keiko Fukazawa, Kimiake Higuchi, Kazue Honma, Makoto Ito, Kiyomi Iwata, Jun Kaneko, Tamiko Kawata, Mika McCann, Keisuke Mizuno, Etsuko Nishi, Eugene Pijanowski, Hiroko Sato, Takako Saito, Yuka Saito, Toru Sato, Hisako Sekijima, Yoko Sekino-Bové, Yukihiro Shibata, Yosh Sugiyama, Akio Takamori, Tsuchida Yasuhiko, Koichiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Yamano, Takeshi Yasuda, and Jiro Yonezawa

Gallery of Work

Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:

Platinum Partners

The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Racine Community Foundation logo
United Way Of Racine County logo
Windgate Foundation

Diamond Partners

Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Diane Zebell

Gold Partners

Anonymous
A.C. Buhler Family
Robert E. Kohler Jr. Fund
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Reliance Controls
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board 50th Anniversary Logo

Silver Partners

Anonymous
Sandy and Gus Antonneau
Baird
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Sharon and Tom Harty
Dave and Judy Hecker
Paula Kalke
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Lang Family Foundation
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr & John Shannon
Sandra Shove
Willard and Mary Walker

Bronze Partners

Carol Baylon
Rose and Peter Christensen
Dave’s Wine Garage
Educators Credit Union
Patricia and Richard Ehlert
Express Employment Professionals
Deborah Ganaway
Carol Griseto
Hitter’s Baseball
SC Johnson
Bill and Debbie Keland
Nancy and Nick Kurten
Susan Manalli
Norbell Foundation
JoAnna Poehlmann
Rasmussen Diamonds
Harold and Lois Solberg
Kathy Stranghellini
Tito’s
Twin Disc
Janna Waldeck
Barbara Waldman

Media Sponsor

Radio Milwaukee logo

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